Is screening for domestic violence routinely performed during pregnancy? Insights from women delivering in a referral hospital in Northern Italy

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is a vulnerable period for intimate partner violence, as violence may emerge or intensify. On this basis, several international guidelines recommend systematic and repetitive screening of domestic violence during pregnancy. However, the adherence to these recommendations is unclear. METHODS: This prospective observational study involved women who delivered in an urban referral obstetrical hospital located in Milan, Northern Italy. Participants were enrolled after delivery and completed an anonymous questionnaire structured into four sections: demographic characteristics, pregnancy-related information, assessment of whether domestic violence screening was performed during gestation, and evaluation of any recent history of abuse. This latter issue was investigated through four different validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Among the 196 participants, nine (4.6%, 95%CI: 2.4-8.5%) reported having been screened at least once during pregnancy about a history of domestic violence. Some differences emerged according to the setting of antenatal care. The frequency of a history of abuses in the studied cohort differed according to the questionnaire used but was not rare, prevalences varying between 1.0% to 5.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for intimate partner violence in pregnancy is seldom performed. A call for action is warranted.